1. Professor Stephen Brown Acting Head JISC Technologies Centre 24 May 2001 University of Hertfordshire Selecting and Using MLEs and VLEs

2. Overview UK developments Key decisions e-tools Criteria

3. UK developments http://www.jisc.ac.uk/jtap/ http://www.jisc.ac.uk/jciel/mlesg http://cetis.bangor.ac.uk/cetis/intro.html http://www.jisc.ac.uk/dner http://www.jtap.ac.uk/techwatch/ http://www.jisc.ac.uk/jcas/ JISC Technologies Centre http://www.jisc.ac.uk/mle/7-99/

4. JCIEL projects CoManTLE MARTINI The Virtual Desk SMILE INSIDE Student focus Generic integrated MIS Integrating CAA into an MIS Towards an Integrated Student Record Content packaging and management CO3 TIRCs

5. UK developments http://ferl.becta.org.uk http://www.hefce.ac.uk/partners/euniv/ http://www.ufiltd.co.uk/materials/qualifie d.htm http://www.ltsn.ac.uk NHS

6. Key decisions VLE or MLE? Buy or DIY?

7. VLE?

8. or MLE?

9. MIS tools EBS Genesis HEMIS MicroCompass SAP SCT/Banner

10. MLE/VLE tools AdminSTAR Blackboard British Aerospace CBT Campus Campus Pipeline Centra Symposium ClassAct Colloquia CoMentor COSE First Class CC Gold inClass Ingenium Interactive Training Manager LearnWise Lotus Learning Space Lotus Pathware Manager’s Edge Merlin MENTOR Mindlever PARS PHOENIX Networks PHOENIX Web Registrar 7 for Windows SABA SkillVantage Manager Solstra STAR The Learning Environment TopClass Virtual Campus Virtual Learning Network Virtual U WebCT WISDOM

11. Buy or DIY? Proprietary systems –cost –speed of implementation –performance Open standards/“best of breed” –cost –speed of implementation –performance

12. Criteria Accessibility Usability Functionality Robustness Scalability Sustainability Portability Cost Strategic fit

13. Accessibility Platform Software Network types Bandwidth On/off campus On/off line

14. Usability Interface design Badging Navigation model Language, spellings, terminology Support for learning? Pedagogic neutrality?

15. Functionality (learners) Course schedule Course content Assignments Feedback Class lists Student home pages Individual student records Multimedia resources E-mail Conferencing tools Noticeboard Chat Off-line working Search tools Bookmarking Print Customisable?

16. Functionality (tutors) Add/create/edit courses Class lists Student grouping Assignment marking Progress recording Course/class statistics Communication –individuals –groups

17. Functionality (admin) Student and staff registration Links to MIS Authentication Authorisation e-commerce System performance –availability –response times –usage volumes –usage patterns

18. Robustness Reliability Authentication Authorisation Systems integration Installed user base Support 24 x 7

19. Scalability Single server? Single site? Network requirements? Staff development Technical support Content management 3rd party content

20. Sustainability Product development Market position Strategic alliances

21. Portability Content Pedagogic style Navigation models Interface design Standards Copyright

22. Cost Per user Per server Per site Per level of functionality Indirect costs

23. Strategic fit MLE/deployment strategy Institutional vision L&T strategy IT strategy Resourcing strategy

24. Motivators 1.Technology 2. University goals 3. Student expectations

25. Goals Strengthen on-campus delivery Expand off-campus delivery, esp. Asia Market share in Global markets Efficiency gains/cost reductions Improving teaching quality Being seen to be current Graduate employability

26. History In-house RBL Limited impact of earlier schemes Web site proliferation Started 1996-1999

27. Management Strong VC with vision Top down leadership Central budget Senior champion Integrated IT Services/Educational technology units

28. Strategy Best of breed DIY Compulsory/voluntary Standards –mixture Tools –generic –simple Single sign-on Authentication hub Active server pages Re-usable objects

29. Conclusions MVLEs here Strategic tool Proprietary systems temporary fix DIY Best of breed Standards

30. Help http://www.jisc.ac.uk/mle http://www.focus.ac.uk http://multimedia.marshall.edu/it/cit/web ct/compare http://www.ctt.bc.ca/landonline

31. sbrown@dmu.ac.uk http://www.ecampus.dmu.ac.uk Professor Stephen Brown Acting Head JISC Technologies Centre stephen.brown@ltsn.ac.uk